Torpedo



H. L. BOESCH.

TORPEDO. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 15, 1919.

Patented Apr.

a. 1a. F

To DEPTH QNTZUL MZCHANISN.

' hws/fore H. L. BozscH HARRY LUTHER IBOISCJIE,` 0F WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR T0 GOVERNMENT 0E THE UNrrEn sfrafrits, nErnEsEN'rEn EY THE SECRETARY 0E THE NAVY.

TORPEDO.-

Specification of Letters Patent. 'Patented Apr. 26, 1921./

Application filed December 15,193.9. Serial No. 345.165.

To all whom 'it may concern,

Be it lmown that HARRY LU'rHEn Bonsoir, a citizen of the United States, re-

siding at Washington, District of Columbia', ,y

have invented new and useful Improvements in rllorpedoes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to torpedoes and more particularly to improvementsjin the depth control mechanism..

In order that a clearer perception of the present invention may be had and the objects sought to be accomplished thereby, it may be briefly stated that automobile tor-k pedoes now in use 'in thejNavy are generally launched over the side of a destroyer, for eX- ample, and from the height of six to twenty feet and land flat on the water with con siderable shock.

depth as desired by means of suitable hydro' statically operated mechanism located on the under side of the central part ofthe torpedo. The hydrostatic pressure of the water passing through a suitable opening in the torpedo body operatesa diaphragmand associated mechanism which in turn controls the angle of the horizontal or depth control rudder in the stern. It is, therefore, one of the objects of the present invention to pro vide a simple and practical mechanismV adapted to take up the shock on the mechanism when striking the water and prevent the shock from being transmitted to the delicately adjusted depth control mecha-rV Other objects will be in part obvious from the annexed drawings and in part `indicated in connection therewith by the following analysis of this invention.

This invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of parts and in the unique relations of the After launching, the torpedo yis maintained at a predetermined" members and in the relative proportioning and disposition thereof; all as more com-- pletely outlined.

ro anni@ 0theism0reskined inline. an,

so .fully tocomprehend the underlyingfeatures thereof that they may embody the saine by the numerous modications instructure and relation contemplated by this invention,

erence denote corresponding part/s through-l out all of the views, of which I Figurel is a partial Ysectional plan View i' of a portion of the torpedo showing the ap.

plication of the present invention thereto.

Fig. `2, is a vertical sectional view of a'porl.

tion ofthe torpedoand L F ig. 3 is a sectionalgview, substantiallyv at'V `l `right angles to the parts shown in Fig. 2,

Referring now to the drawings,amemberf 5 is in a ring 6 adapted tobe carried by a part 7 which is bodily placed or setured on the under side .of the Vcentral part of the torpedo body. i This member '5 is providedV with an opening 7 Fig. 2, communicating with the exterior ofthe torpedo whereby.

the water is permitted to act directlyupon Y a diaphragm S, the motion of which is transmitted through the stem l0. and yoke 11 pivotedA at the point 12 at 'oneside 'andconnectedwith a rod 13 at the opposite side leading' to the depth Ycontrol mechanism as f.

indicated. This diaphragm is normally held in predetermined position by means of two.;

compression springs v14: located in suitable pockets 15', the compression ofwhich may be adjusted in any Vdesired 4well-known manner. -K

rllhese springs before launching normally exert a downward pressure upon the diaphiagmV 8 consequently holding the rod 13 in a relatively lower'position until after the torpedo is launched. However, the hydrostatic pressure on Vthe under side of the diaphragm counter-balances the expansion ofv the springs consequently returning the rod 13 to its relative normal position. Any fluctuation in the kdepth ofthe torpedo will cause a correspondingvariation or difference between theXpansion of the springs 14 and the hydrostatic pressure, which variation will result ina movement of therod 13 'to .165" I produce the desired eect uponthe depth .fi

strain occurring atthe moment of launching and prevent the shock from being transmitted through to the depth control mechanism. Y

VBy referring to Fig. '3 itYV will 'be' notedV Vthat a member 15 is adapted to support the ends of the compression springs and this member is pivoted at 16 to the stem 10 and provided at its lower end with a screw threaded nut 17 supporting a spring 18 coiled about thestem, Fig. 3. yA*bearing member 21 is provided with an inwardly projecting flange 2O atV its upper part which forms with the stem and nut 17 a chamber for the soring` 18 and an abutment for the opposite end. 'llielbearing member 21 is trunnionedL at 22 to the opposite sides ot the'yoke 11. lt will thus be seenthat when the torpedo is launched the Vwater entering through the opening ,7" is treel to mpvfe the diaphragm upwardly against the action of the compression springs 1.4i but bv reason of the interposed spring .1S aV shock will not be transmitted to 'the depth con- .trol rod 13 as the vthreaded nut` 17 will be' 'free to slide upwardly intoltlie chamber formed by the bearing member 21 housing the compression spring 1S.V

lt is thus seen that thelpresent invention provides a simple and practical *construen tion adapted to take up` the shock on launching the torpedo and prevent the Vsaine from being transmitted as Yabove described.

The invention may be readily applied to torpedoes now in general-.use without materially affecting the other parts and at a,

minimum of expense and trouble. y

lt is believed that vthe construction,

Vmethod of use and operation of mechanism of this character will be clear to those skilled in the vart and aVV further description 1s, therefore, believed to be unnecessary.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist 01"' this invention that others can by applying current Aknowlsaid pivoted member. 3. ln a torpedo, Vin combination7 depthl edge readily adapt it fork various applications without omitting certain features that, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly rconstitute essential characteristics of the generic .or specific aspects of this invention,

and, therefore, such adaptations should be and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalency of thek following claims vWhat lvclaim is:-

1. ln a torpedo, in combination, depth control mechanism, a diaphragm exposed to hydrostatic pressure, and a shock absorber interposed between the diaphragm and the depth control mechanism adapted to take up the shock when launchingthe torpedo.

2.' ln a'torpedo, in combination, depth control mechanism, a diaphragm exposed to hydrostatic pressure anda shock absorber interposed between the diaphragm and the depth control mechanism adapted to take up ythe shock when launching the torpedo, said mechanism including a pivoted member di rectly` connected Vwith the depth control mechanism and two relatively movable members interposed between the diaphragm and control mechanism, a diaphragm exposed to hydrostatic pressure, and a shock absorber interposed between the diaphragm andthe depth control mechanism adapted to take up' the shock when launching the torpedo, said'mechanism including a pivoted memberV directly connectec with the Vdepth control mechanism and two movable members interposed between the diaphragm and said pivoted member and yielding means VVadapted normally-to hold said movable members in vnormal position.

Lhln a torpedo, in combination, a depth control mechanism, a diaphragm open to hydrostatic pressure and shock absorbing means interposed therebetween, said means includinga lever adapted to be normally actuated on fluctuations of the diaphragm to transmit motion to the depth control mechanism, and springA retained members tolescoping-one with another and interposed betweenthe'diaphragm and the lever.

Signed at Washington, District of Cothis 21st day of July, 1919.

1 HARRY LUTHER BOESCH. Y

lumbia, 

